With so many products on the market competing for your attention, it can be hard to make a Christmas gift feel personal. Christmas is a time to show our loved ones how much we care, and just another trinket bought online might not cut it. It’s also definitely a time to spoil some of our favorite loved ones—our pets. If you want to make your Christmas gift a little more special this year, why not make a gift yourself?
A DIY cat-themed gift can be a thoughtful and meaningful gift for the cat lover in your life, and taking some time to DIY a present for your favorite cats is sure to make them happy on Christmas morning. Whether you are on a tight budget, trying to be less commercial, or even just excited to do something creative, these DIY gifts for cats and cat lovers are sure to be a big hit.
- Fun DIY Presents for Cat-Loving Humans
- Stylish DIY Cat Beds and Furniture
- Simple But Exciting DIY Cat Toys
- Tasty and Simple DIY Cat Treats
The 10 Fun DIY Presents for Cat-Loving Humans
1. Christmas Stocking Crochet Cat by Alla Bout Ami
| Materials: | Yarn, pink felt, safety eyes, floral wiring |
| Tools: | 2.75 mm crochet hook, glue gun, yarn needle, scissors |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
How about sharing a kitty-themed Christmas decoration with your favorite cat lover? This free pattern requires a little bit of crochet experience, but the end result is utterly precious. The curious kitten would look perfect as an ornament or hung from a doorknob, and it’s sure to bring a little bit of Christmas cheer to any cat-lover’s home.
2. Kitty Hug Sewing Kit by Hand Madiya
| Materials: | Fabric scraps, thread, sew-on snaps, elastic, button, key chain loop, sewing tools to fill kit |
| Tools: | Sewing machine/needle, thread, pins, scissors, ruler |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate to advanced |
Crafty people love crafty people. If you’re a sewist looking for the perfect gift for another friend who sews, an adorable mini sewing kit is never a bad choice. And when the kit in question looks like a cute kitten hugging your tools, it’s even better! This is a photo-only tutorial, so it does require a little more creativity and sewing experience than some of the others on this list. But the clear pictures and options for customization make it a pretty simple project if you’ve been sewing for a while.
3. Custom Kitty Smile Mug by Phenomenal Haley
| Materials: | Oil-based paint pen, ceramic mug |
| Tools: | Oven |
| Difficulty Level: | Very Easy |
Upcycling a plain mug into this cute kitty smile mug is about the easiest project that you could ask for! With only minutes of work and super cheap supplies, this project is perfect for group gifts or last-minute presents. The secret is using an oil-based paint pen instead of a classic sharpie—this special pen will last much longer without fading, so that your friend will never have to make a cuppa without a kitty smile.
4. Pretty Kitty Cat Hat for Babies by Little Red Window
| Materials: | Yarn |
| Tools: | Knitting needles, scissors, yarn needle |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to moderate |
Knitters can get in on the fun with this adorable baby cat hat. The free pattern is for a 12-month old size, while additional sizes can be purchased along with a downloadable PDF. It’s a fairly simple knitting pattern, but a little bit of knitting experience will make your life a lot easier here.
5. DIY Cat Watercolor Painting by Lucy Akins
| Materials: | Watercolor paints, watercolor paper |
| Tools: | Palette, water basin, brushes, pencil, paper towels |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
A beautiful, simple painting is a great handmade gift for a cat lover, and we loved this one in particular. Some basic watercolor painting skills are helpful, but this tutorial breaks down the steps in a simple, easy-to-follow way that makes it less intimidating than it looks. Although this painting uses autumn colors and a black cat, you can easily change the palette to match your vision.
6. Glam Leather Cat Purse by A Beautiful Mess
| Materials: | Thin leather/faux leather, zipper, purse chain, bag stiffener |
| Tools: | Fabric scissors, glue, binder clips, ruler, rotary cutter, leather needle |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate to advanced |
Is there anything more sweetly glam than this purse? It’s the perfect project for a cat-loving fashionista of any age—from a cute toddler right on up to a sophisticated retiree. The leather construction is a little bit trickier than a fabric purse, so some sewing experience is a must. But the final result is totally worth it.
7. Plastic Bottle Kitty Planter by Salty Canary
| Materials: | Soda bottles, spray paint, paint pens, gravel, plants |
| Tools: | Scissors/X-acto knife |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This super easy planter is the cutest way to upcycle a plastic soda bottle. The cute, tiny “paws” of the planter, the sweet kitty face, and the tail sticking out the back are all utterly charming, and the end result looks way more chic than any plastic bottle I’ve seen. You can even plant it with catnip or cat grass for a feline-friendly treat.
8. Wire Cat Bookmark by Amy Latta Creations
| Materials: | 16 gauge wire |
| Tools: | Steel stamping block and hammer (optional), needle nose pliers, wire cutters |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This beautiful hammered wire bookmark will slip in between the pages of your favorite novel with no trouble, and it looks way fancier than it really is. Even if you’ve never worked with wire before, it’s super easy to make and the end result is stunning. We could also see this shape working great for a pair of kitty earrings!
9. Cat-Stamped Tee by See Kate Saw
| Materials: | T-shirt, fabric paint, large potato, paper towels |
| Tools: | Permanent marker, kitchen knife, X-acto knife |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Everyone likes a comfy, cute shirt, and did you know that you can use a potato to decorate one? This tutorial gives step-by-step instructions for making a cute cat stamp from a garden vegetable. Then you can use the stamp to make a custom printed t-shirt for your friend. Or if you’d rather, you can also use the potato stamping method to decorate a scarf, a gift tag, or anything else!
10. Origami Cat Bookmark by Origami with Jo Nakashima
| Materials: | Origami paper |
| Tools: | None needed |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
We all remember grade school origami projects, but this video tutorial is a great option for all ages. We love the classy foiled tissue recommended here, but any square of thin paper would work as well. If you’re giving a friend a book featuring cats, why not slip a bookmark between the pages and write a nice note on its belly?
The 6 Stylish DIY Cat Beds and Furniture
11. Retro Bus Cat House by eHow
| Materials: | Cardboard box, tape, scrap cardboard, paint, hot glue |
| Tools: | Ruler, box cutter, scissors, paint brush, glue gun |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Surf’s up! Maybe your favorite cat lives in a house with a little bit of a retro vibe. Why not make a cat house to match? This totally groovy cat bus house starts as a simple cardboard box. With some creative cutting and a few coats of craft paint, you’ve got a Christmas gift that will have you dreaming of summer.
12. Chunky Knitted Cat Bed by teamobn
| Materials: | Ohhio braid |
| Tools: | Ruler, box cutter, scissors, paint brush, glue gun |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Doesn’t that look cuddly? Knitting may sound like a complicated skill, but the extra-chunky ohhio braid does most of the work for you in this DIY. All you need is a pair of scissors and your hands to work with it, and with an easy to follow video you can make a beautiful cat nest in no time.
13. Cube Cat Bed by Swoodson Says
| Materials: | 1 yard outer and lining fabric, padded mailers, thread |
| Tools: | Rotary cutter/scissors, ruler, pins/clips, iron, sewing needle or machine |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This cute cube cat bed is the perfect gift for a box-loving feline. It’s made with simple materials—a few cuts of fabric and some padded mailing envelopes—and is super easy to construct. Some sewing experience is nice, but if you’re a complete beginner there, don’t worry. This piece is mostly simple seams and straight lines that will make it easy for you to follow.
14. Planted Cat Water Bowl by The Happier Homemaker
| Materials: | Large, low planter, soil, gravel, catnip, cat grass, smaller glass bowl |
| Tools: | None needed |
| Difficulty Level: | Super Easy |
If you always forget to water your plants, why not give your cat this beautiful planter bowl that lets your cat water them himself? This super easy planted cat bowl looks beautiful, but the real bonus is that splashing water as you refill and your cat drinks will help keep your plants alive too. The catnip and cat grass planted here are vibrant and fresh, bringing some green into your kitty’s life.
15. Indoor Cat Garden by Your Purrfect Kitty
| Materials: | Planter, gravel, soil, wheatgrass, catnip, parsley, rosemary, mint, decorative rocks and figures |
| Tools: | None needed |
| Difficulty Level: | Super Easy |
An indoor cat-friendly garden planter is a great way to show your cat some love, and we loved this one! Along with the cat classics of wheatgrass and catnip, this planter paired some cat-safe herbs that grow well together and add some extra color and texture to the planter. This makes a vibrant, beautiful garden planter that you and your cat can both enjoy!
16. White-on-Black Painted Pet Bowls by Leigh Laurel Studios
| Materials: | Plain ceramic bowls |
| Tools: | White porcelain pen, oven |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Your pets food and water bowls don’t have to come from the pet store. In fact, many owners love to use ordinary ceramic bowls for their pet. And this tutorial lets you take it a step further with beautiful white-on-black custom designs. Let’s be honest—you’ll love these more than your cat will. But Christmas is a great excuse to make them anyway.
The 4 Simple But Exciting DIY Cat Toys
17. No Sew Fleece Toy by Sensibly Sara
| Materials: | String, fleece scrap, catnip (optional) |
| Tools: | Scissors |
| Difficulty Level: | Super Easy |
Your cat will appreciate a new, fun, toy to play with, and this one is a great way to use up some scraps. The end result is a fun, fluffy pom pom that any cat would die for—especially if you add some catnip to it. It only takes a minute or two to make, so it’s a great feline stocking stuffer.
18. Ribbon Gym by Charleston Crafted
| Materials: | 1”x2” wood, dowel, white rope, ribbons |
| Tools: | Drill, scissors, sandpaper, saw |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy to moderate |
Even a beginner woodworker can make this simple ribbon gym. It’s a great way to learn some new skills, and the end result is something functional and fun. Once you’ve built the base gym, the ribbons can be swapped out as needed to keep your cat’s interest alive, and putting this in a drafty spot in your house will make the gym come alive with tantalizing movement.
19. Cat Wand by Irresistible Pets
| Materials: | Wooden dowel, jingle bells, fabric scraps and ribbons, twine, fabric glue |
| Tools: | Scissors |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Cast a charm on your cat with this beautiful cat wand. The textured, twine-wrapped handle and colorful spray of ribbons and jingle bells make it fun to look at and it’s easy to customize with whatever types of string, ribbon and fabric you have on hand. The real gift to your cat is a gift of time together as you play with this toy for hours on end.
20. Easy Cat Enrichment Toy by Massiel Dominguez
| Materials: | Shoe box, toilet paper rolls, rope, hot glue, decorating supplies |
| Tools: | Scissors, glue gun |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
This box of toilet paper rolls may not look like much to you, but it is much more exciting for your cat. This enrichment toy acts like a puzzle box, and your cat will love sniffing out a hidden treat in one of its crannies. You can also put toys inside one of the holes for your cat to fish out.
The 3 Tasty and Simple DIY Cat Treats
21. Three Ingredient Cat Treats by The Cookie Rookie
| Ingredients: | Canned salmon, egg, whole wheat flour |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Cat treats make tasty stocking stuffers for your favorite friend, and a jar of homemade salmon cat treats is a great healthy and easy option. These are super simple to make, with only three ingredients! We love how pretty they are with a fish-shaped cookie cutter, but you can also cut them into squares or triangles and your cat will be just as happy.
22. Carrot and Catnip Treats by epicuricloud
| Ingredients: | Oil, flour, dried catnip, shredded carrot, egg |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Carrots and cats might be an unexpected combination, but your cat will love these delicious treats. Although they aren’t a substitute for a healthy meal, they are a great delicious snack that will have your cat licking its whiskers and begging for more. The slight taste of catnip adds a subtle but exciting note of flavor to these treats.
23. Pumpkin and Salmon Cat Treats by epicuricloud
| Ingredients: | Oat flour, canned salmon, egg, pumpkin puree |
| Difficulty Level: | Easy |
Another delicious combination, these treats use salmon, pumpkin, and oat to make a delicious and healthy nibble for your cat. Each of these treats is packed with omega fatty acids, healthy whole grains, and lots of vitamins, plus a dose of flavor that your cat can’t miss.
Final Thoughts on DIY Christmas Gifts for Cats
As you prepare for Christmas this year, don’t forget all the great pets and pet lovers in your life! We hope these gifts will give you some great ideas to get started. Whether you make up a stocking full of simple cat toys and treats, give your cat the bed of its dreams, or decide to make a cat-themed accessory for an awesome human friend, these tutorials are sure to get you plenty of appreciation this holiday season.
Featured Image Credit: Nadtochiy, Shuttterstock
